Chapter 5
Day 7 - Southern Bali
We woke up very late and after a huge breakfast we hired a free-lance driver to have our first tour of Bali. The name of our driver was similar to Nyowman, but we soon renamed him “Yum Yum”. He was a very greedy bastard, and since the beginning we had to bargain hard on every price all the day long. Said this, it looked that the lower price that we could get was still very high. Rumors say that it’s for the Japanese people travelling there. Japanese people cannot bargain and locals are making scary prices for anything knowing that Japanese guys will still buy anything. I wonder if it’s true. I’m keen on agreeing with that.
Nusa Dua
The first place that we visited was a peninsula called “Nusa Dua”, which is a real huge tourist spot. The beach was very nice and we also visited a small Hindu temple called Pura Bias Tugel where there were happening ceremonies for the local people. We stood at the next small beach looking at the people going to pray, all of them with beautiful flowers on their hears. Just there near there is a area called “Waterblow”. Here the low cliff was carved during the ages by the force of the sea. The erosion shaped the stones in spikes and sharp blades, but the more menacing part is underground. Wave after wave the sea created large dangerous tunnels. When the sea is rough, water flows along the tunnels and blows up, like geysers, from the cracks in the tunnels vaults.
We took some picture and we went back to spend a little more time on the soft sandy beach nearby. Then it was time to leave for the next place.
We took some picture and we went back to spend a little more time on the soft sandy beach nearby. Then it was time to leave for the next place.
Padang Padang
We entered the car and “Yum Yum” took us to Padang-Padang, which is a famous surfers spot. He beach is quite small and surrounded by high cliffs. The nature of this area allows the sea, while rough, to rise huge waves. A lot of people come to this place to have surf contests and surf lessons. By good luck, that day the sea wasn’t as rough as surfers would wish! So, we were lucky. Too early we had to leave the place, but we decided to come back there before the end of the trip.
Pura Luhur Ulu Watu
From Padang-Padang we went to the Pura Luhur Ulu Watu temple: this temple rises on a high cliff above the sea. This place is simply amazing, especially at sunset, like when we visited it. All around there are many monkeys that can turn quite dangerous if they see food, so people must pay a lot of attention while visiting this temple.
At sunset people can buy a ticket to watch a traditional Kecak dance show. In this show the dancers/actors play scenes from the Ramayana, the music is provided only by a chorus of people singing only the word “Kecak” at different speeds. The show was amazing and we loved it!
At sunset people can buy a ticket to watch a traditional Kecak dance show. In this show the dancers/actors play scenes from the Ramayana, the music is provided only by a chorus of people singing only the word “Kecak” at different speeds. The show was amazing and we loved it!
Jimbaran Beach
The tour of that day ended with a grilled-fish dinner on the Jimbaran beach. We were sitting at a table and the only light was a candle and the stars above us. The sea was a few metres from us. A gentle breeze came from the sea. It was truly romantic!